Adams County most wanted suspect arrested

NATCHEZ — An Adams County man is in the Adams County Jail facing an aggravated assault charge and other charges from the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Natchez Police Department, said Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten.

ACSO deputies arrested Gregory Hammett, 27, at approximately 8:30 a.m. Thursday on an aggravated assault charge from a March 21 incident, Patten said.

Hammett had been at the top of Adams County’s Most Wanted list since the March 21 incident that occurred at Chuck’s Place at 106 Steamplant Road in which Hammett is accused of beating a man in the face with what is believed to have been the butt of a gun, Patten said.

The victim had to have several surgeries to repair his face, Patten said.

“The suspect had been running from us ever since then,” Patten said.

Authorities received a tip that Hammett was at a house on Spencer Road in Natchez and had visited the house a couple of times, Patten said.

The first time, deputies did not get an answer at the door, and the second time the occupant said she had no knowledge of Hammett or his whereabouts.

On Thursday morning, however, Patten said deputies went to the house and found Hammett there and made the arrest.

Danteria Johnson, 27, was arrested and charged with harboring a fugitive, Patten said.

In addition, Patten said Hammett has warrants from the MDOC on parole violations and faces charges of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of contraband in a prison.

Hammett also faces a charge of obstruction of justice: tampering with physical evidence from the Natchez Police Department.

“This young man has been tied to several different things over the years, anything from assaults to shootings,” Patten said. “It cost the family of the victim a lot of grief knowing that this guy was still running loose after they’ve had numerous surgeries done to their son from the damage that was done in this assault. I’m glad that we were able to get him off the street and do our part. Now I hope that the system does its part and makes sure that it gets justice for this family.”